Device for thawing frozen loads of coal



(No Model.) 7

. P. BEST.

DEVICE FOR THAWING FROZEN LOADS 0]? GOAL, 8w.

N0. 392,844. PatentedNov. 13, 1888.

WITNESSES: 70 aymfi f ATTORNEY,

INVENTUR I W I N. PETERS. Phohrulhognphcr Washinglon. D. C.

UNITED TATES PETER BEST, OF NEWARK, NElV JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR THAWING FROZEN LDADS OF COAL, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,844, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed December 7, 1887. Serial No. 257,185. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER BEST, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain which are frozen, and consequently incapable of being unloaded or handled, the purpose of which is to thaw the frozen mass; and it consists, essentially, of a tubular spike or shaft suitably adapted to be entered or forced into the body of frozen material, having combined therewith a conduit for conveying steam thereto from any proper supply, all substantially as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a central sectional view of a device constructed under the present invention, in which- A represents the spike or shaft, made intoriorly hollow or tubular and provided with radial perforations a in the side walls thereof.

13 represents a tube, of rubber or other suitable material, atone end thereof communicating with the said tubular spike A and at itsother end with any suitable steam-supply.

As particularly shown in the drawing, a cross or four-way coupling, 0, is provided, having branches 0 O G C, the two branches 0 0 thereof being in the same longitudinal line with the spike A and the branches 0 G at right angles thereto. The spike A is exteriorly screw-threaded, as at b, at its upper end and engages with threads in the branch 0. Atubular extension, D, at the branch 0', which engages with threads thereof, forms a means of attachment of the steam-pipe B, as shown. In the branch 0 is fitted a solid metal plug, E, and forms virtually a continuation of the spike A above the coupling 0, and in the branch 0* is screwed another plug, F, whichis at right angles to the tubular spike A. The plug E is provided for the purpose of receiving the impact of a mallet, &c., for driving the spike into the body of the frozen ma terial, while the plug or stud F is intended to 'forations a thereof, permeates the outlying mabe grasped by the hand, whereby to steady the spike as it is being so forced.

When it is desired to thaw and loosen the ice binding the particles of coal, &c., together, the tubular spike A is, through blows received at the extension or plug E, or otherwise, driven for a short distance into the frozen mass, when the steam entered into the interior ofthe spike, and issuing from the per terial and thaws the ice. The spike is driven from time to time deeper and deeper into the load, as becomes possible under the thawing process, until it has been forced to the bottom, or as far as is necessary to accomplish the de sired result, the utility and practicability of which is entirely obvious without further deseription.

While steam has been mentioned as employed with the means for introducing same to the frozen body, plainly hot air might be employed with advantage in some cases.

IVhen a device for the purposes of the pros entinvention is constructed, as shown, with a spike A and plug E in line with each other, screwing into threads of coupling branches, it is desirable to provide shoulders d in the coupling for abutment of the lower end of the plug and upper end of the tubular spike, whereby the threads are relieved from strain and liability of being broken. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with a tubular perforated spike, of a branched coupling to which said spike is attached, a conduit for steam, and a plug, E, attached to said coupling, the latter in line with said spike and the former at an angle thereto, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a tubular perforated spikc, of a branched coupling to which said spike is attached, a conduit for steam, and a plug, F, attached to the coupling at either 9 5 side at angles to the spike, and a plug, E, attached to the coupling in line with said spike, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the tubular perforated spike A, of a coupling having socketed 100 branches 0 0 provided with internal shoul- I In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my ders, d, and the socketed branches (3*, the invention I have signed my name, in presence [0 plugs Eand F, and the conduit for steam, said of two witnesses, this 28th day of January, plug Eand the said spike being entered in the 1887.

5 socketed and shouldered branches 0 O and PETER BEST.

said plug F and steam-conduit being attached Vitnesses: to said branches 0 and 0, all substantially as 7M. SEARS BELLoWs,

' shown, and for the purpose described. A. D. PORTER. 

